Oslo

No question, Norwegian choreographers and dance companies have been attracting growing national and international attention since the late 1990s. A number of prominent choreographers have chosen to step beyond Norway’s borders in search of dance  education. Some have been drawn to Belgium ­while others set their sights on the UK. Still, back home in Norway, the majority of dancers and choreographers continue to get their education in Oslo, which arguably remains the focal point of dance in Norway.

The recent announcement that the new national arena for dance, Dansens Hus, will be moving into permanent premises in the Vulkan building in spring 2007, reinforces Oslo’s significant position.

The dance programme at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) continues to dominate the field of dance education in Norway, although in smaller cities such as Bergen and Stavanger other programmes are either on the agenda or undergoing improvements. As part of the Faculty of Performing Arts at KHiO, the dance programme offers the most comprehensive dance training available, including bachelor’s degrees in classical ballet, jazz dance and modern and contemporary dance, the only master’s degree ...